[William Beatty Kingston, author and Daily Telegraph journalist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('Wm: Beatty Kingston') to the solicitor Edward Draper, asking his advice regarding a claim against him by London bootmakers Noguez & Wasselin.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Good, on lightly aged and worn paper, with traces of mount on blank reverse of second leaf. The letter begins: 'My dear Edward Draper | In the name of "The Trombone" I solicit your advice & aid in the following matter. | Twelve or thirteen years ago a London bootmaking firm, hight Noguez & Wasselin, did work for me or my wife (I disremember which) to the tune of three pounds odd shillings. | I have no doubt that I paid for what I had - and having been my unbroken custom ever sincce I became a legally responsible person. But I need not say that all my receipts of ten years & upwards ago have long since perished. | Meanwhile (that is, from 1871 to within the past week) no application from this firm for payment of any account whatsoever has reached me, although I have not been a difficult man to find!' He explains that the firm contacted him a week before, demanding payment, and that he replied, 'politely, that I could not recognise any claim of so ancient a date; but that if they liked to have my custom again, as they had formerly made good boots (so far as my membery served me) I should be happy to employ them.' He has no lawyer and has been advised by friends that 'a twelve years' old claim is rendered null & void by the Statute of Limitations'. He asks Draper to advise him, but has 'such a horror of law - becauses of the time & temper of its wastes, not to speak of currency, which is as scarce with me as of old - that if you tell me I should do better to submit to extortion than resist it, I will do so.' Draper was the honorary solictor of the Savage Club.